One In Six Americans Get Sick From Foodborne Diseases Every Single Year, So Here’s How To Spot The Symptoms Of Food Poisoning And Handle It
In life, eating tainted food is basically a rite of passage. If you’ve never experienced a bout of food poisoning before, you will most definitely have one at some point in time. Unfortunately, outbreaks of food poisoning occur pretty often.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in six Americans gets sick from foodborne diseases every year. That’s 48 million people.
Most cases of food poisoning can be resolved on their own within a short period of time, but some are more serious and can even be life-threatening. Out of the 48 million people affected by contaminated food every year, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die.
Food poisoning can be preventable if you practice proper food safety. However, there are times when you’re not in control of how food is prepared or stored. For example, you might eat at a friend’s house or at a restaurant. So, for those instances, it’s important to know how to spot the symptoms of food poisoning and what to do if you have it.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a condition that is caused by consuming food or beverages that contain certain germs. Some common ones include Salmonella, E. Coli, and Listeria. Other sources of food poisoning can be parasites, such as Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora cayetanensis. Food poisoning can also occur from molds or toxins, like heavy metals.
Once ingested, the pathogen will multiply in your body and cause unpleasant symptoms. Most people with food poisoning will experience these symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, and chills.
After a few hours or a few days, you will start to feel better, which means that the contaminated food is slowly working its way out of your system. Your symptoms will vary in duration and intensity, depending on what pathogen you ate, how old you are, or if you have a medical condition that makes you immunocompromised.
If your symptoms persist for a while or become severe, it might be time to see a doctor. Bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than three days, a temperature over 102 degrees, signs of dehydration, and excessive vomiting to the point where you can’t keep fluids down are all indicators that you need to see a doctor.
Pormezz – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
What To Do
Getting food poisoning is quite an ordeal and can take a toll on your body. Here’s what you can do to help your body recover.
First of all, focus on staying hydrated. Drink water, juice, broths, and sports drinks with electrolytes. Electrolytes are essential minerals, like calcium, sodium, and potassium, that are vital to your body. Additionally, prioritize getting lots of rest.
As for food, try to eat stuff that’s soft and plain, such as toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce. Bland crackers are also a good option.
You can take anti-diarrheal medications to provide digestive support. Make sure to check with your healthcare provider if that’s safe for you to do, though.
How To Prevent Food Poisoning
If you gave yourself food poisoning from something you prepared in your kitchen, there are steps you can take to prevent it from happening ever again.
Before you start cooking, wash your hands thoroughly. Wash them whenever you touch seafood, raw eggs, meat, and poultry. Keep meat and vegetables separate and keep cooked food and raw food far away from each other.
You can utilize a food thermometer to ensure that your food is cooked all the way. Meat should be at least 140 degrees, while poultry should be at least 165 degrees.
When you’re done eating your meal, put any leftovers in the refrigerator right away. Perishable foods should not be left out for more than two hours.
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